Pinda scoffs at perpetrators of land grabbing allegations

The Citizen | 24 August 2013
Medium_pinda
Tanzania's Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said allegations that a large portion of arable land had been taken over by foreigners at the expense of local people were not true.

Pinda scoffs at perpetrators of land grabbing allegations

Babati. The government said yesterday it was not aware of land grabbing claims, which it alleged had been orchestrated by some groups of people abroad.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said allegations that a large portion of arable land had been taken over by foreigners at the expense of local people were not true.

He said, when opening an investment forum for Manyara Region, that there was plenty of arable land in Tanzania which has not been put to use. He added that foreign investors covered only 200,000 hectares, under a lease, out of the 44 million which is arable throughout the country.

“We have plenty of arable land,” he said as he unveiled the forum and an exhibition at Kwaraa grounds in Babati.

The PM told hundreds of government officials, politicians, members of the business community and traders that only a fraction of 1.6million ha suitable for irrigation was under cultivation.

Mr Pinda appeared to differ with the Manyara regional commissioner Elaston Mbwilo on the land issue.

Earlier, the RC said land conflicts were among the barriers to investment in the vast Manyara Region, which was until some decades back one of the food baskets in the country.

Mr Mbwilo admitted that the regional government was having difficulties with constant land rows although it was ready to cooperate and protect potential investors.

“Land conflicts are critical in Manyara Region”, he stressed, noting that there was a tendency of some people hoarding huge chunks of land without putting it to economic use.

Absence of proper land use plan, he said, has also led to violent conflicts between the livestock keepers and farmers.

“Most of our traditional livestock keepers are not aware of land issues and would drive their animals into any open land”, he explained,

However, the deputy minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development Benedict Ole Nangoro interjected on the land issue and defended the traditional livestock keepers.
  • Sign the petition to stop Industria Chiquibul's violence against communities in Guatemala!
  • Who's involved?

    Whos Involved?


  • 13 May 2024 - Washington DC
    World Bank Land Conference 2024
  • Languages



    Special content



    Archives


    Latest posts